“Well, now, how very kind this is; you are too good to us,” said the old man, as he lifted the little one on his knee, and expressed his thanks in the best manner he was able, to the delighted donor. The picture was admired and examined again and again, but the sight of it seemed to revive some painful recollections. The seaman remarked, that the motto was a very true one; and said that life had been a stormy sea to him, though he had met with many a friendly sail on the voyage. Mrs. Ashton here expressed a hope, that he might never be left without a pilot, to whose safe guidance he could trust; and reminded him, that all our affairs are in the hands of Him, whose voice the winds and waves obey. The children saw that tears were in the old man’s eyes, as he raised them with a serious expression, and said: “Yes, truly, Providence has been to me like the bright pole-star, when all around was dark. He will not suffer those who trust in Him to perish; so my Bible tells me, ma’am; and I have found it to be, through his blessing, a safe guide to port.” “I rejoice to hear you say so,” said Mrs. Ashton: “happy, indeed, is the mariner, who trusts not in any strength or skill of his own, to guide his bark through the troubled ocean of life.” The widowed mother did not take much part in this conversation; but Edward and Lewis observed her fast-falling tears, as she busily plyed her needle. They therefore forbore to ask any more questions about old Tom’s voyages, the storms he had encountered, or the foreign lands he had visited, lest they should remind poor Mary of the husband she had lost, and give pain to her feeling heart. Mrs. Ashton praised the neatness and cleanliness of the little habitation; and the children admired the curious specimens of shells, fossils, and sea-weed, which were arranged on the top of an antique chest-of-drawers, over which was placed a looking-glass of the same date, so inclined as to reflect the treasures below, and draw the attention of visitors to these marine productions. A small shelf, near the fire-place, contained a much-used Bible, and some tracts, with two or three other books. Mrs. Ashton added a few to the little store; and then, with many kind words, left the humble dwelling, amid the oft-repeated thanks of poor Tom, and his daughter Mary, for all the favours shown them by the good lady, and the young gentlemen. Edward and Lewis were not sorry when they had quitted the narrow, confined street, to come in view of the sea once more. They rambled along the beach to the westward, enjoying the cool sea-breezes, as they had often done at other times.